​The Twin Cities has a regional development system that encourages low-density growth patterns and an almost complete reliance on automobiles for getting around. Policies and funding mechanisms limit transportation choices and hide or shift the cost of this approach. One solution is to return to market fundamentals by expanding choices in land use and transportation and pricing transportation according to its true cost.​MCEA supports a balanced, multi-modal system of transportation. That requires secure and sufficient funding for transit so that a network of regional transitways can be built, doubling the capacity of the regional transit system.

Roads & Bridges

Minnesota has spent billions of dollars over the years building new bridges and highways to the point where we have more roads per capita than any other state in the nation. That construction has come at a cost, however. Pouring money into new construction has not left enough money to maintain our infrastructure. More than 300 bridges on interstate, U.S. or state highways are either structurally deficient or functionally obsolete.

The passage of the 2008 Transportation bill over the Governor Pawlenty's veto, with the help of MCEA, increased the gasoline tax five cents per gallon. That money should be used to maintain our current roads and bridges first.

Transit Planning

A well-designed light rail system in the Twin Cities is critical to reduce air pollution, sprawl, and traffic congestion. In addition, the housing and business development that occurs around light rail stops brings significant economic benefits.

For those reasons, the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy has long been a strong advocate for light rail. We worked to add neighborhood stops to the 11-mile Central Corridor Green line which connects downtown St. Paul to downtown Minneapolis. We support further development of the light rail system, including the Southwest Blue Line extension to Eden Prairie and the Bottineau Green Line extension to Brooklyn Park.

Transit Funding

The Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy has lobbied hard at all levels of government for adequate funding for transit funding in the Twin Cities and other cities throughout Minnesota. Without adequate funding, fares rapidly increase and bus lines are cut, as we have witnessed repeatedly in the Twin Cities this decade.

Metro Transit runs the buses, light rail, and commuter rail lines in the Twin Cities. It is a overseen by the Metropolitan Council. About 35 percent of Metro Transit's operating costs are paid by bus and light rail fares. About 60 percent is paid for by state tax dollars and the remainder comes from federal dollars, advertising and other earned revenue.

Metro Transit fares for local buses and the light rail are $1.75 and $2.25 during the peak fare hours. The express bus fares are $2.25 and $3 during the peak fare hours. Especially for the peak hours, Metro Transit's rates are higher than most peer cities, according to research by Transit for Livable Communities.

The Metropolitan Council is once again considering raising fares and cutting bus service to cut a $89 million budget deficit. Despite a $1.6 billion surplus, the Minnesota Legislature is considering cuts to transit that would exacerbate the problem.

Some state money for transit comes from the motor vehicle sales tax following a 2006 constitutional amendment that dedicates at least 40 percent of the revenues from that tax to transit and the rest to roads. MCEA was a key player in convincing he public to pass the amendment.